t 

SENATE,  MvY  10,  JHOl.  —  Read  fir^t  and  second  times,  and  or- 
dered to  be  phu'ed  up'Mi  the  c;vUMidar  uiid  printed. 

[By  Mr.  Bkow.n  tVom  the  Committee  on  Naval  Affairs.] 


A.  BILL 

To  amend  An  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to  provide"  an  Invalid  Corps,'' 
approved  Hth  February,  1864. 

1  ■     7%c  Congress  of  tlvc  Confederate  States  of  America  do  enact,  That 

2  the  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  an  Invalid  Corps,'"  approved 
S     February  aeventech,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four,  be  extended 

4  to,  and  held  to  embrace,  the  ordinary   seamen,  landsmen  and 

5  boys  of  the  navy,  and  the  non-cotomissioned  oflBcers,  musicians, 

6  .and  privates  of  the  marine  corps ;  and  that  assisgnmcnts  to  duty 

7  of  all  otticers,  men  and  boys  of  the  navy  and  of  the  marine  corps* 
-S  under  the  fourth  section  of  the  said  act  shall  be  made  by  the 
9  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


Adjutant  and  Inspkctok  (jenlral's  Office,  ( 
Richmond,  March  16,  1864.      S 

GENERAL  ORDERS,) 
No.  31.  i 

I.  The  following  act  of  Congress 'and  orders  arc  published  for  the 
information  of  the  army: 

An  Act  to  provide  an  Invalid  Corps. 

'*  Tlie  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  do  enact. 
That  all  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  privates  and 
seamen,  who  have  .or  shall  become  disabled  "by  wounds  or  other  inju- 
ries received,  or  disease  contracted  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  in  the  line  of  duty,  shall  be  retired  or  discharged  from 
their  respective  positions,  as  hereinafter  provided.  But  the  rank, 
pay  and  emoluments  of  such  officers,  and  the  pay  and,  emoluments  of 
such  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians,  privates  and  seamen  shall 
continue  to  the  end  of  the  war,  or  ag  long  as  they  shall  continue  so 
retired  or  discharged. 

Sec  2.  That  all  persons  claiming  the  benefits  of  this  act  shall 
present  themselves  for  examination  to  one  of  the  medical  examining 
boards  now  established  by  law.  Upon  the  certificate  of  such  board 
that  such  permanent  disability  exists,  such  persons  shall  be  retired  or 
discharged  as  aforesaid. 

Sec.  3.  That. all  persons  retired  or  discharged  as  aforesaid,  shall 
periodically,  and  at  least  once  in  six  months,  present  themselves  to 
one  of  said  boards  for  further  examination,  uxder  regulations  to  be 
prescribed  by  the  Secretary  of  War ;  the  result  of  which  examina- 
tion shall  be  i-eported  by  such  board  to  the  said  Secretary.  And  if 
any  such  person  shall  fail  so  to  report  himself  to  such  board,  whenever 
he  shall  be  required  so  to  do,  he  shall  be  dropped  from  said  retired  at 
discharged  list,  and  become  liable  to  conscription,  undei*  the  terms  of 
the  law,  ui^less  such  failure  shall  be  caused  by  physical  disability. 

Sec.  i.  That  the  Secretary  of  War  may  assign  such  officers,  and 
order  the  detail  of  such  non-conunissioned  officers,  musicians,  privates 
and  seamen  for  such  duty  us  they  shall  be  qualified  to»perforra.  If 
any  such  non-commissioned  "ofiicers,  musicians,  privates  and  seamen 
shall  be  relieved  from  disability,  they  shall  be  restored  to  duty  in 
their  respective  commflMs. 

Sfx.  6.  That  the  S^Ptary  of  War  shall  make  all  needful  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  action  of  the  medical  boards  as  aforesaid. 

Si:c.  6.  That  vacancies  caused  by  the  retireAent  of  officers  under 
this  act,  shall  be  filled  as  in  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  such 
officers. 

Sec.  7,  This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  its  passage. 

Approved  February  17,  1864." 


II.  Applications  ■will  be  made  by  officers  and  soldiers  who  wish  to 
be  retired  or  discharged  under  this  act,  through  their  commanding 
officers,  for  authority  to  appt^ar  before  one  of  the  medical  examining 
boards  now  established  by  law. 

Commanding  officers  will  endorse  fully  the  facts  connected  with 
the  alleged  disability,  and  forward  the  application  to  the  General 
(commanding,  who  will  return  it  to  the  applicant,  with  his  approval, 
or  the  reason  why  it  is  withheld.  The  endorsement  will  be  the 
authority  to  the  board,  which  will  be  composed*of  three  medical 
officers,  for  the  examination  of  the  applicant. 

III.  if  the  application  be  approved  by  the  commanding  General, 
and  the  board  find  the  soldier  permanently  disabled  by  wounds  or 
other  injuries  received, 'or  disease  contracted  in  the  service,  it  will 
retire  the  soldier,  and  forward  to  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General 
the  original  application  and  certificates;  or,  if  the  board  find  a  soldier 
totally  unfit  for  duty  in  any  department  of  service,  he  may,  if  he 
prefer  it,  be  discharged  upon  certificates  of  disability,  under  the  regu- 
lations and  usages  of  the  service,  as  before  the  enactment  of  the  law 
jjrovJding  an  invalid  corps. 

If  the  application  be  disapproved,  the  board  may  nevertheless  pro- 
.ceed  with  the  examinatiofi.  If  they  find  the  applicant  permanently 
disabled,  from  either  of  the  causes  stated  in  the  act,  they  will  not 
retire  him,  but  forAvard  the  original  application  and  their  certificate  to 
the  Surgeon  General,  for  final  action  at  this  office. 

lY.  A  corresponding  course  will  be  pursued  when  the.  applicants 
are  officers,  Except  that  the  board  will  not  retire,  bu'-  forward  the 
certificates,  through  the  Surgeon  General,  to  tiii?  uljatant  and 
Inspector  General        " 

.  v.  If  the  board  examining  the  officer  or  soldier  find  hiiu  disabled 
for  service  I'n  the  field,  but  fit  for  duty  in  some  department  of  service, 
the  duty  he  can  .best  perform  will  be  indicated  in  the  certificate, 
ivhich  will  be  forwarded  toWhe  Adjutant  and  Inspector  (leneral. 

VI.  Officer?  recommended  under  the  act  to  relievo  t!ie  army  of  dis- 
H^ualified,  disabled  or  incompetent  officers,  approved  October  13th, 
1862,  to  be  retired,  because  of  wounds  or  other  injurie.^  received,  or 
disease  contracted  in  the  service,  will  receive,  upon  their  written 
application  to  the  Adjutant  and  Inspt-cfor  (general,  authority  to  appear 
Uefore  one  of  the  medical  examining  hoards  for  retiring  officers  and 
privates,  under  the  act  above  recited,  approved  February  17th,  1861. 

VII.  Officers  or  soldiers  retired  under  the  provisions  of  this  act, 
will  present  themselves  once  in  six  months  to  one  of  the  boards  of 
surgeons  indicateil  in  paragraph  II  of  th^ise  Orders,  for  further  exam- 
ination ,  the  result  of  which  will  be  certified  a?  flirectcd  in  paragraph 
III  of  these  Orders.  If  prevented  by  physical  disability  from  so  pre- 
senting liiinself,  the  cause  of  such  failure  will  be  established  by  the 
certificate  of  a  surgeon  of  the  anny,  or  of  a  citizen  physician  a'  ^  i'';'^' 
enrolling  officer  of  the  district  in  which  the  person    may  at  t 


be  residing, 
soldier  vi 
VIll.  Failure  to  appear  periodically,  as  provided  by  the  preceding 


ding.      .\s  soon  as  the  physical  disability  is  removed,  t!ic  oiticdi-  ^ 
or  soldier  will  appear  before  the  board  for  rc-e'xaminatio'ii'.  "^  '  • '    "''''  ''^'T 


paragraph,  v.ill  be  reported  by  the  medical  examining  board.and proper 
enrolling  officer  to  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General. 

IX.  Officers  retired  under  the  act  of  Congress  above  cited,  are 
entitled  to  commutation  of  quarters  and  fuel  only  when  assigned  to 
duty  (as  provided  in  section  fourth  of  said  act,)  at  a  station  without 
troops,  where  public  qiiarters  cannot  be  furnished  in  kind.  They 
will  receive  pay  from-  any  post  quartermaster,  upon  exhibiting  evi- 
dence of  their  retirement  from  active  service,  and  the  certificate  of  _ 
last  payment  required  by  paragraph  IV,  General  Orders  No.  28,  and 
paragraph  1,  Genejj^l  Orders  No.  126,  (1S63.) 

X.  Soldiers  retired  from  the  service,  as  herein  provided,  will  be 
-furnished  with  descriptive  lists,  which,  in  addition  to  the  usual  history 
given,  will  exhibit  the  fact  that  they  have  been  placed  on  the  retired 
list,  and  designate  tue  post  at  which  they  will  be  entitled  to  receive 
pay  and  allowances.  They  will  report  to  the*  commandant  of  such 
post — which  will  be  nearest  their  places  of  residence — and  deliver  to 
liim  their  descriptive  lists. 

XI.  Post  commanders  aj*e  required  to  take  possession  of  descriptive 
lists  of  all  soldiers  reporting  to  them,  and,  from  the  data  therein 
given,  at  the  end  of  every  two  months,  to  prepare  muster  rolls,  upon 
which  these  soldiers  will  receive  pay  from  the  post  quartermaster  or 
assistant  quartermaster.  They  will  append  to  each  roll  a  certificate 
that  it  has  been  m^de  out  in  accordance-with  statements  presented  i& 
descriptive  lists  of  the  soldiers  on  file  in  his  office. 

XII.  Officers  of  the  Quartermaster's  Department  will  issue  neces- 
sary clothing  to  retired  soldiers  upon  requisitions  made  by  the  com- 
mandants of  the  posts  at  which  they  are  stationed,  takirtg  their  re- 
ceipts upon  receipt  rolls,  form  No.  53,  Regulations  for  the  Quarter- 
master's Department.  • 

XIII.  Retired  soldiers  will  have  their  rations  commuted  at  $1  2^ 
per  day,  to  be  paid  by  the  commissary  at  the  post  design afed;  under 
the  orders  of  the  commanding  officer. 

XIV.  When  the  soldier  shall  be  returneJIo  his  command,  his  dis- 
ability for  field  service  having  been  removed,  the  post  commander  will 
note  upon  his  descriptive  list  the  dates  to  which  payment  may  have 
been  made  him,  on  account  of  pay  and  rations  commuted,  and  the  ar- 
ticles of  clothing  issued,  and  return  it  to  him  to  be  delivered  to  his 
company  commander  ;  or,  if  ke  btlongsto  the  non-commissioned  staff, 
to  the  adjutant  of  his  regiment  or  battalion 

XV.  'J'he  followincc  Forms  will  be  observed  : 

ARMY  OF  THE  CONFEDERATE  STATES. 

Medical  Certificate  to  Retire  Invalid  Officer^ 
(Under  Act  of  Congress  approved  February  17,  1864.) 


,  of  the  regiment, V>rigade,  having  ap- 
peared before  the  board  for  examination.  Ave  do  hereby  certify — 

[Here  state  whether  the  officer  is  permanently  disabled;  and  cannot 
perform  duty  in  any  branch  of  the  military   service,    with  a  full  de- 


scription  of  the  wound,  injury  or  disease,  and  the  disabling  effects, 
and  that  it  vas  deceived  or  contracted  rn  the  service  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States,  in  the  line  of  duty.  If  it  is  a  re-examination,  made  pe- 
riodically, state  such  fact.  If  the  invalid,  being  disabled  for  service 
in  the  field,  is  tit  for  othev  service,  recommend  him  accordingly.  Should 
HU  invalid  retired  overcoino  the  disability,  recommend  him  for  such 
dutv  an  he  can  perform.] 

,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S., 

•  ,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S., 

'. ,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S., 

Medial  I  Examining  Board. 
]Pla(;e,]  Examining  Board. 

|T>ATK.j 

(Duplicates.)  * 

AK.MV    or    CONFEDERATE    STATES. 

Certificate  of  Disability  for  Retiring  Invalid  Soldiers., 
(Under  act  of  Congress  approved  February  17,  1864.) 

of  Captain  's  company  ( — ,)  of  the reg- 


iment,   's   brigade,   enrolled  or  enlisted  by ,  at 

on  the day  of ,  to  serve  — .     He  was  born  in * 

in  the   State  of ,  is years  of  age,  feet inches 

high,    cotnplexion,    eyes,    hair,  and  by  occupation, 

when  enlisted,  a  ;  and  having   appeared  before  this  board  for 

examination,  we  do  hereby  certify — 

[Here  state  whether  the  soldier  is  permanentl}''  disabled,  and  cannot 
perform  duty  in  any  branch  of  the  military  service,  with  a  full  de- 
scription of  the  wound,  injury  or  disease,  and  the  disabling  effects, 
and  that  it  was  received  or  contracted  in-the  servicQ  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States,  in  the  line  of  duty.  If  it  is  a  re-examination,  made  at 
periods  of  six  months,  state  such  fact.  If  the  invalid,  being  disabled 
tor  duty  in  the  field,  is  fit  for  duty  in  some  department  of  the  military 
service,  recommend  him  accordingly.  Should  an  invalid  discharged 
overcome  the  disability,  recommend  him  for  such  duty  as  he  can  per- 
form.] • 

,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S., 

,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S., 

-,  Surgeon  P.  A.  C.  S. 


[Place,]  Examining  Board. 
[Date.] 

(Du{)licates. 


Medical  Examining  Board. 


Form  for   retiring   n    Soldier., 
[Under  the  act  to  provide  an  Invalid  Corps,  approved  Feb.  17,  1864.] 
7o  a/ 1  whom,  it  maxf  concern  : 

Know  ye,  that .   a  — —  of  Criptain  corapany, 


